If the world ran according to us, drinking wine in Tuscany would happen on the reg. As it happens, reality is harsh. Fortunately, we have Natalia and Iain’s Tuscan soiree to get us through this long and lonely Monday. These two tied the knot on the grounds of a country estate, complete with one heck of an all-white colour palette (flowers, dresses and groomsmen included). With tiny bottles of limoncello as bonbonniere and dinner under the stars, things were pretty perf. It’s probably time to scroll down and take it all in for yourself. Nina Claire Photography was there to immortalise it all…
THE VENUE “We decided on our venue without even seeing it. We were both set on the destination being Tuscany from the moment we got engaged, and the initial plan was to celebrate it at a close friend’s B&B where Iain had spent many European summers before. I hadn’t been there but had no doubt it would be amazing. However, there was a limit on guest capacity, and after receiving so much love from our save the dates, we knew we’d need something bigger. So we decided to look at other alternatives online, close by, and fell in love with our venue [La Bandita Country House], with its amazing location and breathtaking view of the Val d’Orcia. We relied solely on reviews and online photos and were very lucky and pleased with the outcome. The staff were very prompt to respond to our many questions which was very reassuring.”
THE VIBE “We wanted to make sure it was as raw and organic as possible. We felt that too much detail or decor would take away from the Tuscan beauty instead of adding to it. So keeping things simple, but tasteful, was key. Our colour palette was an extension of the rolling hills of the beautiful Val d’Orcia under the mid-summer sun, which was the backdrop to our ceremony and surrounded the whole venue.”
A WORD OF ADVICE “Definitely get a wedding planner. Even if it’s for a small wedding and you think you can get by without one, please don’t. It takes a lot of stress out of your wedding day and the lead up to it. You want to be able to delegate and just enjoy every single bit of it.”
WE’RE GLAD WE… “Going for a destination wedding was the absolute best decision. It was the perfect excuse for an unforgettable holiday for all our guests. It was perfect for a buddy moon, which we did with 14 of our closest friends, and it meant an intimate wedding with only those closest and dearest to us.”
STANDOUT VENDOR “Hands down our photographer, Nina Claire, was our star vendor. As with all weddings, some plans and timelines didn’t run smoothly on the day and she just ran with it, without making a fuss and reassuring us that everything was ok. Nothing was too hard for her. She was amazing at organising 60 crazy Australians and Colombians and was extremely patient with some family members and two bridesmaids during photos as they didn’t speak English. The candid and emotional moments were captured beautifully. We received so many compliments on our photos.”
Whilst some of us can only dream of a Tuscan wedding, nabbing Nina Claire for your big day is the next best thing. You can find this lovely lady’s contact deets here. If you’d like to check out some more of her work then pop on over here for Shannon and James’ Byron Bay nups.
CONTRIBUTING VENDORS Photographer Nina Claire Photography Event Planner Tuscan Wedding Events Stylist Elena Cameranesi Florist Sartoria Floreale Invites & Favour Tags Paper Dainty via Etsy Ceremony, Reception & Catering La Bandita Country House Cake Sugarcups Cake Design Wedding Favours Mini Limoncello bottles via Preludio Divisione Noleggi Lighting & Sound Wedding Music & Lights Signage Willow and Ink Entertainment Dalise Band Celebrant Sam Wolff-Gillings (friend) Rings GS Diamonds THE BRIDE Gown & Veil Emmy Mae Bridal Robes Le Rose Shoes Country Road Accessories Isabella May Hair Massimo Cesca Makeup Elena Cameranesi Bridesmaid Dresses Esther & Co THE GROOM Suit InStitchu Shoes Double Oak Mills via The Iconic Watch Rolex